Timothy Allen, CPA, managing partner of Allen Wine Group, has more than thirty years of winery finance experience, including five years with a Big 4 CPA firm, fourteen years working in operations and finance at wineries, and fourteen years leading Allen Wine Group.
Justin Tooley, a Central Coast native with an impressive career in the wine industry, serves as the dynamic Vice President for Continental Wine Collection, the parent company to Paso Robles’ Broken Earth Winery, CV Wines, and Pull Wines. Bringing a passionate dedication to the wine industry, Tooley leads with a unique blend of financial prowess, business ingenuity, and operational expertise. Starting his professional journey in finance, Tooley discovered his true calling in the vibrant, complex world of wine back in 2010. This newfound passion led him to JUSTIN Winery, where he worked as a Financial Controller before stepping into the role of General Manager/Senior Vice President of Villa San Juliette Winery in Paso Robles.Today, Tooley leads Continental Wine Collection with equal parts integrity and intelligence, devising creative strategies for growth and ensuring operational excellence for all three wine brands. His desire to elevate the Paso Robles wine region to global recognition motivates his commitment to the industry, which is also reflected in his wine-specific professional designations and ongoing keynote speakeropportunities.True to his Irish heritage, Tooley also brings wit and a delightfully cheeky demeanor to his work. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time outdoors with four children, attending sporting events, and appreciating the world-class Paso Robles region he calls home.
It will be 2 years in October, that I have been the Director of Wine, Beer & Spirits for Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres and New Leaf Market for CA. Before coming on as Director, I was with E & J Gallo for 24 years. I was recruited to Gallo and started on the Chain Division as a Sales Rep. and I was promoted to District Mgr. and then to Area Mgr. I was then promoted to the Off Premise / Broad Market Division, where I opened numerous premium markets and I managed the So. Cal. Fine Wine Division. Through the years with Gallo, I managed several So. Cal. and California Divisions in the premium wine sector.
In 2021, Gallo merged their Sales Division with RNDC and I was an Account Executive where I managed Total Wine, Whole Foods and Sprouts Markets as National Accounts and Bristol Farms and Gelson’s as Regional Accounts.
Melanie Mann, is the Principal Category Merchant for Wine at Whole Foods Market. With a relentless dedication to sourcing wines that weave compelling narratives and uphold impeccable quality, Melanie stands at the forefront of crafting a wine selection that resonates with the values of Whole Foods Market’s discerning customers.
In her role as the leader of the team responsible for curating all wines stocked in over 350 stores across the United States, Melanie’s passion for her work shines through in the rich diversity of wines available to Whole Foods Market patrons. Alongside her colleagues she shares a common commitment to delivering a truly memorable wine experience.
One of the pivotal areas of focus for Melanie and her team is the organic and biodynamic sector. Wines crafted with certified organic grapes or eco-certified practices hold a special place in their hearts. However, it’s not merely about certifications or flavors; it involves probing into a winery’s practices related to worker responsibility, social responsibility initiatives, environmental impact, and much more.
Danny Brager has a wealth of experience in the U.S. Beverage Alcohol industry, analyzing trends over many years. He formerly headed Nielsen’s (now known as NIQ) Beverage Alcohol Practice Area in the U.S, leading teams that supported relationships with Nielsen’s clients as well as key industry groups and the media.
In his current consulting role, Danny provides data-driven analysis and insights to Beverage Alcohol companies seeking to translate information into authoritative, fact-based insights in support of their corporate and brand goals. Each year, he presents at many notable industry and company events and is a frequent thought leader contributor to the media/press. His informed opinions are highly respected by the beverage alcohol producers, importers, distributors, retailers, and financiers.
Danny partners with 3 Tier Beverages – a company that facilitates the provision of data, and provides outsourced analytics, is a Special Advisor to the Wine Market Council, and is Managing Director of Category & Consumer Insights at Azur Associates. Azur was founded to bring comprehensive advisory & consulting services – including strategic advisory, mergers & acquisitions, and route to market solutions – to wine and spirits companies.
Danny was born in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Toronto where he graduated from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He relocated to Mission Viejo, California in 1993 where he now resides.
I currently manage the Southern California Fine Wine Team for Breakthru Beverage Groups Aspect Division. My role is to coach and develop my team to deliver maximum impact in the market. Additionally, a high level of customer and supplier engagement in the field to deliver customized plans and programs to enhance their business.
Upon graduating from the University of Kansas, I started my career as a restaurant manager with several stints between corporate and independent establishments. I was relocated to Los Angeles by the Cheesecake Factory, but quickly realized that restaurant management was not conducive to seeing my family. My wholesale career began at Wine Warehouse in 2005 where I held several roles. Small Accounts Retail Rep in LA and Santa Monica, Broad Market Rep in Santa Monica and Brentwood, Region Manager South Bay Region, Founding Director for Independent Retail and Founding Statewide Director of Fine Wine. I earned Sales Representative of the Year in 2006 and 2008, Region Manager of the Year in 2012.
I’m passionate about wine, customer service, supplier engagement and developing a team. I am WSET Level 2 Certified, and I’m actively involved in many wine pairing events and charities. I have extensive experience in developing marketing programs in both Independent Retail and On-Premise Channels.
I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After college in Lawrence, Kansas, I moved to Kansas City (GO CHIEFS!!) where I met my wife. We have lived in Los Angeles since 1997. We have a 15 year old son Jack attending Loyola High School. I love to hike, outdoor activities and cooking.
Henry Danielson is an experienced Space & Cybersecurity strategist. He has successfully been a part of the Interplanetary Networking Special Interest Group (IPNSIG), Academy Working Group (AWG) and the Technical Documentation working group. Mr. Danielson has collaborated with the United States Space Force, Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) , and Space Systems Command to help develop the Space Grand Challenge (SGC), which is a global cybersecurity virtual game-based capture the flag (CTF) competition for middle and high school students. He promotes awareness for middle and high school students all over the country. Mr. Danielson is also on staff with the Aerospace Village to promote Space cybersecurity.
For over twenty years, Henry has been a professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He serves as the Technical Advisor & Curriculum Developer for the California Cybersecurity Institute as well as the Technology Director of the Coast Unified School District. He also guest lectures on Social Engineering and OSINT every quarter at Cal Poly’s Computer Science course Everyday Computer Security. Mr. Danielson holds multiple certifications in cybersecurity.
Additionally, Henry is a GOON at DEF CON; the largest hacking convention in the world. In 2023, he published a book on cybersecurity tools and tactics to combat social engineering.
Essentially weaned and raised in a wine cellar, Cyrille is both family member and dedicated wine sales associate at the esteemed wine retailer, Hi-Time Wine cellars in Costa Mesa, California. Forty years of experience ranging from retailer to broker, tasting room hostess to harvest veteran, and wine educator to oenological attaché. Her reverent irreverence for all things wine, spirits and eats brings a unique and refreshing voice to the ever-evolving world of libations.
Laurel started her Water Board career at the Central Valley Regional Water Board as a stormwater student assistant and in 2008 was hired onto the State Water Resources Control Board Industrial and Construction Stormwater NPDES Permitting program team, which Laurel then managed from 2015-2020. In 2020, Laurel transitioned to her current role as the Waste Discharge Requirements Program Manager primarily involving industrial and sanitation waste discharge requirements for discharges to groundwater in collaboration with the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards. Laurel holds a B.S. in plant science from UC Santa Cruz and has completed an A.S. in Geographic Information Systems from American River College.
Pat DeLong is the Founder and Principal of Azur Associates. He has over 30 years of experience working with consumer brands across private and public companies. Pat has served in a number of roles including Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at some of the leading consumer beverage companies, including Crimson Wine Group, Constellation Brands, Robert Mondavi Corporation and Francis Ford Coppola Companies. Pat’s early career includes consulting and advisory work with Deloitte in San Francisco.
Pat’s history as a leader has provided him with significant experience working with Board of Directors and executive management teams on strategic planning, management and organization structure, financing, capital allocation, mergers and acquisitions, route to market strategy and performance management. Pat’s background in mergers and acquisitions includes some of the most significant transactions in the wine space, both on the buy and the sell side.
In addition, Pat has significant experience with public companies and public company BOD’s having served as a public company CEO, CFO and Senior Vice President of Planning and Finance over a 20 year span.
Pat completed the Strategic Planning Executive Program at the University of Michigan, post graduate studies in the Masters of Applied Economics Program at the University of Seattle and his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance & Accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In his early career, Pat earned his Certified Public Accounting license in both California and Washington.
Pat has served on multiple Board of Directors (BOD’s) in the beverage space. In addition, he has served on college BOD’s including Cal Poly’s Alumni Association where his work there led to his award as Alumni of The Year for the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business in 2011.